Via Deadline, the dark comedy pilot from executive producers Jerry Weintraub, Jay Roach and Roberto Benabib focuses on “a geopolitical crisis and its effect on three disparate and desperate men.” Former ‘Weeds‘ writer siblings Robert and brother Kim Benabib wrote the script, with Roach directing the pilot, calling on Black and Robbins as producers, in addition to their starring roles.

Black plays the role of Alex Coppins, a lowly foreign service officer reluctantly caught on the ground in the middle of the conflict, while Robbins holds the role of US secretary of state Walter Hollander, described as a man of big appetites and little patience for the war mongers in the Situation Room. Pablo Schreiber rounds out the trio as ace Navy fighter pilot Zeke Callahan, adding to a cast that includes 'The Daily Show''s Aasif Mandvi, Maribeth Monroe, Geoff Pierson, Esai Morales and 'The Killing' star Eric Ladin

We're given to understand that 'The Brink' had an impressive turnaround of 4-5 months from inception to HBO's immediate pickup, following a pilot screening for HBO executives, but what say you? Could Jack Black and Tim Robbins' new dark comedy fill the holes in HBO's lineup?